Hair growth agent

Abstract

To provide a novel hair growth agent that is applied topically to the scalp, thereby facilitating the transdermal absorption of both hair growth components and organic components, and demonstrates a hair growth-enhancing effect as well as a moisturizing effect to prevent hair loss, dandruff, and itching.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: A hair growth agent according to the present invention contains 0.01 mass%-5 mass% of Aloe vera extract, 0.01 mass%-5 mass% of a hair growth component, and 1 mass%-60 mass% of alcohol, with the balance being water.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair growth agent. [Background technology]

[0002] Known hair growth ingredients in hair growth agents include tocopherol acetate and nicotinamide (Patent Document 1). In recent years, however, in addition to these hair growth ingredients, attempts have been made to include organic ingredients in order to moisturize the scalp, i.e., the transdermal area, and suppress dandruff and itching.

[0003] On the other hand, the epidermis is structured to prevent the entry of foreign substances from the outside of the body, so that merely applying an active ingredient to the skin does not provide sufficient percutaneous absorption due to the barrier function of the stratum corneum of the epidermis. In the case of organic ingredients, the effect is expressed by penetration into the inside of the skin, so in order to enhance the effect of the organic ingredient, it is important to improve the skin permeability of the organic ingredient. In response to this, various percutaneous absorption enhancers have been proposed to improve the skin permeability of various ingredients.

[0004] As the above-mentioned percutaneous absorption enhancer, for example, surfactants, various oils, terpenes, etc. Specifically, branched fatty acids and alcohols have been proposed as drug penetrating agents in external preparations for the skin (Patent Document 2), and further, mono- or diesters of even-carbon chain fatty acids have been proposed to improve the absorbability of odd-chain fatty acid glycerides, which are active ingredients in hair growth agents (Patent Document 3).

[0005] However, most of these absorption enhancers are lipophilic substances, and when the hair growth agent contains a large amount of water, precipitation of the organic components is observed, making it difficult to ensure long-term stability, and the percutaneous absorption of the organic components has not been fully achieved. For these reasons, there has been a demand for a hair growth agent that further improves the percutaneous absorption of the organic components and suppresses precipitation of the organic components even in a composition with a large water content, thereby providing excellent storage stability of the composition. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-169233 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-207018 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-66516 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a novel hair growth agent which, when applied externally to the scalp, promotes percutaneous absorption of not only hair growth ingredients but also organic ingredients, and has a hair growth promoting effect and a moisturizing effect that prevents hair loss, dandruff, and itching. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a hair growth agent containing aloe vera extract, alcohol, and water. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a hair growth agent is prepared by mixing a predetermined amount of aloe vera extract with a predetermined amount of alcohol as an organic ingredient, and the remainder is water. The aloe vera extract has the effect of being quickly absorbed in a sufficient amount for percutaneous absorption when applied to the scalp, and has the effect of moisturizing the skin and preventing dandruff and itching. In addition, since the aloe vera extract is mixed with a predetermined amount of alcohol, the solid content of the aloe vera extract is dissolved by the alcohol, and the percutaneous absorption is further promoted.

[0010] Therefore, a novel hair growth agent can be provided that, when applied externally to the scalp, promotes percutaneous absorption of not only hair growth ingredients but also organic ingredients, and has a hair growth promoting effect and a moisturizing effect that prevents hair loss, dandruff, and itching. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. In the following description, when it is written "X to Y[Z]" (X and Y are arbitrary numbers, and [Z] is a unit), it means "X[Z] or more and Y[Z] or less" unless otherwise specified.

[0012] (1) Aloe vera extract In the present invention, aloe vera extract functions as an organic ingredient. Aloe vera extract is an extract obtained by extracting Aloe vera as a raw material.

[0013] The part of Aloe vera used as the raw material for extracting Aloe vera extract is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, leaves, stems, roots, etc. Among these parts, leaves contain many components that exhibit pharmaceutical or cosmetic efficacy, and are preferably used as the raw material for extraction. The part of Aloe vera to be subjected to the extraction process is preferably cut into pieces or crushed in order to increase the extraction efficiency, and may be undried, dried, frozen, etc.

[0014] The extraction solvent used in the extraction process of aloe vera extract is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include water, organic solvents, and mixtures thereof.

[0015] Specific examples of the organic solvent include lower alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, and butanol; polyhydric alcohols, such as 1,3-butylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and glycerin; esters, such as ethyl acetate and methyl acetate; and ketones, such as acetone.

[0016] These organic solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these extraction solvents, from the viewpoint of efficiently extracting components exhibiting pharmaceutical or cosmetic efficacy, at least one selected from the group consisting of water, lower alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and polyhydric alcohols is preferred; at least one selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, and 1,3-butylene glycol is more preferred; and ethanol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and mixtures thereof are particularly preferred.

[0017] The method for extracting the aloe vera extract is not particularly limited, and may be any method commonly used for producing plant extracts, such as a method of immersing the extract in an extraction solvent by cold or hot immersion, and stirring as necessary, a percolation method, or a steam distillation method.

[0018] The extract obtained by extracting Aloe vera can be filtered or centrifuged to remove solid matter as necessary to recover the Aloe vera extract. In the topical composition of the present invention, the liquid Aloe vera extract obtained by the extraction process may be used as is, but if necessary, it may be used as a concentrated liquid or dried product (extract powder, dried extract) after removing a part or all of the solvent. In addition, these concentrated or dried products may be further subjected to a purification process, or they may be dissolved in an appropriate solvent before use.

[0019] In the present invention, the content of the aloe vera extract in the hair growth agent is preferably 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, more preferably 0.02% by mass to 2% by mass, and even more preferably 0.04% by mass to 1% by mass. This allows the moisturizing effect of the aloe vera extract to be fully exhibited, and the solid content is fully dissolved in the alcohol described below, increasing the transdermal absorbability. Note that the mass of the aloe vera extract described above is the mass of the dried product.

[0020] (2) Alcohol The alcohol may be a monohydric alcohol or a polyhydric alcohol, and these may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds, but a monohydric alcohol is preferred.

[0021] Examples of the monohydric alcohol include lower alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, etc. Among these, ethanol is preferred.

[0022] Examples of polyhydric alcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, isoprene glycol, etc. Among these, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and isoprene glycol are preferred, and polyethylene glycol is particularly preferred.

[0023] In the present invention, the content of the alcohol in the hair growth agent is preferably 1% by mass to 60% by mass, more preferably 5% by mass to 55% by mass, and even more preferably 10% by mass to 50% by mass, which allows the solid content of the aloe vera extract to be sufficiently dissolved and sufficiently enhances the transdermal absorbability of the hair growth agent containing the aloe vera extract.

[0024] (3) Hair growth ingredients The hair growth agent of the present invention further contains a hair growth component, which allows the agent to exert its inherent hair growth effect.

[0025] Examples of hair growth ingredients include pentadecanoic acid glyceride, hinokitiol, forskolin, trans-3,4'-dimethyl-3-hydroxyflavanone, tocopherols such as tocopherol acetate, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, retinol palmitate, β-carotene, calciferol, folic acid, biotin, D-pantothenyl alcohol, acetyl pantothenyl ethyl ether, calcium pantothenate, pantothenyl ethyl ether, ascorbic acid, estradiol, etc., minoxidil, Swertia japonica extract, carrot extract, thyme extract, sage extract, aloe extract, rosemary extract, hawthorn extract, wild rose extract, yarrow extract, arginine, aspartic acid, methionine, serine, glycine, glutamic acid, cystine, β-glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrrhizic acids, pyridoxine hydrochloride, isopropyl methylphenol, and piroctone olamine.

[0026] Among these, organic hair growth ingredients such as Swertia japonica extract, carrot extract, thyme extract, sage extract, aloe extract, rosemary extract, hawthorn extract, wild rose extract, and yarrow extract are preferred.

[0027] The content of the hair growth component in the hair growth agent is preferably 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, more preferably 0.05% by mass to 3.5% by mass, and even more preferably 0.1% by mass to 2% by mass, allowing the hair growth agent of the present invention to exert its inherent effects.

[0028] The remainder of the hair growth agent of the present invention is water. Examples of the water include alkaline ionized water, RO water, purified water, and deep sea water.

[0029] (4) Other ingredients In addition to the above essential components, the hair growth composition may contain optional components depending on the intended use, etc., within the scope of not impairing the effects of the present invention. Examples of such optional components include alcohols other than ethanol, nonionic surfactants, carbohydrate surfactants, other surfactants, celluloses, oils and fats, polymeric resins, coloring agents, fragrances, ultraviolet absorbers, and keratolytic agents, and may be used alone or in appropriate combination of two or more.

[0030] Examples of surfactants include polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil mono- or isostearate, glycerin fatty acid esters, etc.; examples of celluloses include hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, etc.; examples of fats and oils include safflower oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, etc.; examples of polymer resins include amphoteric, cationic, anionic and nonionic polymers, etc.; examples of ultraviolet absorbers include octyl methoxycinnamate (Neo Heliopan AV; trade name of Haamann & Reimer), oxybenzone, urocanic acid, etc.; and examples of keratolytic agents include salicylic acid, resorcin, etc.

[0031] When a fragrance is blended into the hair growth agent composition of the present invention, the fragrance used is in accordance with the fragrances and fragrance compositions described in JP-A No. 2003-95895, and when a fragrance composition is blended, it is preferable that the fragrance composition be blended in an amount of 0.00001 to 50% by mass, and more preferably 0.0001 to 30% by mass, based on the total amount of the hair growth agent composition.

[0032] The hair growth agent of the present invention can be prepared according to a conventional method, and can be prepared in the form of a homogeneous solution, lotion, gel, etc. The hair growth agent of the present invention can also be in the form of an aerosol, and in that case, in addition to the above-mentioned components, lower alcohols such as n-propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol, flammable gases such as butane, propane, isobutane, liquefied petroleum gas, and dimethyl ether, compressed gases such as nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, carbon dioxide gas, and nitrous oxide gas can be blended, and mixtures of these can also be used. In that case, it is preferable to blend dimethyl ether and nitrogen gas at a mass ratio (dimethyl ether / nitrogen gas) of 99.99 / 0.01 to 50 / 50, blend liquefied petroleum gas and dimethyl ether at a mass ratio (liquefied petroleum gas / dimethyl ether) of 99 / 1 to 1 / 99, and blend liquefied petroleum gas and nitrogen at a mass ratio (liquefied petroleum gas / nitrogen) of 99.99 / 0.01 to 50 / 50.

[0033] In view of the above embodiments, the present application also includes the following inventions. [1] A hair growth agent containing aloe vera extract, alcohol, and water. [2] The hair growth agent according to [1], further comprising an organic hair growth ingredient. [3] The hair growth agent according to [2], wherein the content of the aloe vera extract is 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, the content of the alcohol is 1% by mass to 60% by mass, the content of the hair growth ingredient is 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, and the remainder is water. [4] The hair growth agent according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the alcohol is a monohydric alcohol. [5] The hair growth agent according to [4], wherein the monohydric alcohol is ethanol. [6] The hair growth agent according to any one of [2] to [5], wherein the organic hair growth ingredient is at least one selected from the group consisting of minoxidil, Swertia japonica extract, carrot extract, thyme extract, sage extract, aloe extract, rosemary extract, hawthorn extract, wild rose extract, and yarrow extract. EXAMPLES

[0034] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. In the following examples, "%" in the composition indicates % by mass unless otherwise specified.

[0035] (Examples 1 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3) A quartz cell with an optical path length of 1 cm was used, and the hair growth agent having the composition shown in Table 1 was prepared in the cell, and the transmittance of the hair growth agent was measured at a wavelength of 550 nm using a Spectrophotometer SE7700 manufactured by NIPPON DENSHOKU. In Table 1, transmittance of 90% or more was evaluated as ◯, transmittance of 85% or more was evaluated as △, and transmittance of less than 85% was evaluated as ×.

[0036] (Table 1) TIFF2024168059000001.tif55125

[0037] As is clear from Table 1, the hair growth agent according to the present invention, which contains 0.01% to 5% by mass of aloe vera extract, 1% to 60% by mass of alcohol, 0.01% to 5% by mass of organic components, and the remainder being water, exhibits high transmittance. In other words, it is found that the hair growth agent contains almost no residual solid content, has high permeability to the skin, and exerts a high hair growth effect due to the aloe vera extract.

[0038] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

Claims

1. A hair growth agent containing aloe vera extract, alcohol, and water.

2. The hair growth agent according to claim 1, further comprising an organic hair growth ingredient.

3. 3. The hair growth agent according to claim 2, wherein the content of the aloe vera extract is 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, the content of the alcohol is 1% by mass to 60% by mass, the content of the hair growth ingredient is 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, and the remainder is water.

4. The hair growth agent according to claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is a monohydric alcohol.

5. The hair growth agent according to claim 4, wherein the monohydric alcohol is ethanol.

6. 3. The hair growth agent according to claim 2, wherein the organic hair growth ingredient is at least one selected from the group consisting of minoxidil, Swertia japonica extract, carrot extract, thyme extract, sage extract, aloe extract, rosemary extract, hawthorn extract, wild rose extract, and yarrow extract.

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